Luxury Galápagos Cruise & Highlights of Cuenca & Quito - 10 Days

Highlights

• Tour the colorful hillside enclaves of Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city
• Hike to volcanoes and visit tortoise breeding centers in the Galápagos
• Cruise to remote islets, bays, and beaches to spot exotic wildlife
• Hit the cobbled streets of Cuenca to discover Ecuador's colonial history

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Guayaquil, Half-Day City Tour

Welcome to Ecuador! This luxury journey combines the biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands with Ecuador's rich colonial history—and your base for these grand adventures is Guayaquil. Located on the Pacific coast, this is Ecuador's largest city, known as the "Pearl of the Pacific" due to its massive port, economic importance, industrial growth, and cultural diversity.

A driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you into the city and Hotel del Parque. This 5-star accommodation is something of an urban oasis, located within the greenery of Parque Histórico in a beautifully restored 19th-century building. The elegant rooms and suites blend traditional and contemporary decor and feature plush beds with high thread count linens. Many offer views of the nearby gardens and Río Daule. After checking in, you'll meet a guide for a half-day city tour.

It starts with a visit to Seminario Park, where large groups of iguanas relax in the sun. After visiting the neo-Gothic Metropolitan Cathedral, you'll stroll down the famous Malecón, a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) boardwalk along the river. Then, visit historic government buildings, including the Palacio Municipal and the Palacio de la Gobernación. Here, you'll find La Torre Morisca (The Moorish Clocktower), built in 1843. End your tour in the old district of Las Peñas, a picturesque neighborhood built on the Cerro Santa Ana. Later, return to your hotel, where a welcome dinner awaits.

Day 2: Fly to the Galápagos, Transfer to Cruise Ship

Your island adventure awaits! Return to the airport this morning and board a plane for the two-hour flight to the Galápagos. This archipelago of 13 main volcanic islands needs no introduction. One of the most biodiverse spots on earth, the islands' ecosystems attracted Charles Darwin and inspired his theory of natural selection. You'll arrive at Baltra, an islet adjacent to Isla Santa Cruz, one of the Galápagos' 13 main islands.

A driver will pick you up for the ride to Santa Cruz's south side and its main town of Puerto Ayora. At the port here, you'll step aboard your accommodation for the next few nights. The M/C Endemic is a new luxury catamaran purpose-built to cruise the azure waters of the Galápagos in style. With a capacity for 16 guests, it features luxurious staterooms with panoramic windows and private balconies. Other welcome amenities include a sun deck, a Jacuzzi, and a friendly crew dedicated to making your Galápagos experience a memorable one.

The island adventures begin right away when the ship cruises to Sullivan Bay. Located on the east coast of neighboring Isla Santiago. You'll feel like you've landed on the moon as you step onto the recently solidified lava flow here. It feels wild and remote even by Galápagos standards, and you'll want to take plenty of pictures of the lunar-like landscape. There's also life here in the form of nesting sea turtles, blue herons, and oystercatchers, to name a few.

Day 3: Cruise to Isla Isabela: Sierra Negra Volcano & Tortoise Breeding Center

Enjoy an al fresco breakfast as the ship cruises west to Isla Isabela, the largest of the Galápagos Islands. Upon arrival at the coastal town of Puerto Villamil, you'll transfer to the interior to hike the famous Sierra Negra volcano. As you explore the second-largest volcano crater on the planet (it measures 6 miles/9.6 km in diameter), you'll walk along lava paths abounding with plant and animal life. Watch for different bird species while hiking to the crater rim, like Galápagos hawks, vermilion flycatchers, and Darwin's finches. Parts of the caldera provide evidence of its last eruption in 2018.

After the volcano hike, you'll transfer back to Puerto Villamil, stopping just outside of town at the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center. The center is home to hundreds of juvenile and adult tortoises, including populations from all over the archipelago. Giant tortoise eggs are carefully incubated here in a special hatchery, and the adults are cared for in large supervised corrals.

Your last stop before returning to the boat is the Wall of Tears. This wall was constructed between 1946 and 1959, when Isabela was a penal colony. As punishment, the prisoners were forced to build it from huge blocks of lava. On the ride back to the yacht, look to the area's wetlands, where you'll likely spot flamingoes and other water birds.

Day 4: Explore Isla Isabela: Elizabeth Bay & Urbina Bay

In the morning, you'll cruise around to Elizabeth Bay, on the east coast of Isabela. This area contains many rocky islets you can cruise around by Zodiac as you search for penguins and blue-footed boobies. Also, with abundant marine life and clear water, the area is perfect for snorkeling amid schools of colorful fish, sea lions, and even sea turtles.

Continue the exploration of Isabela's east coast this afternoon with a visit to Urbina Bay. This is another fascinating area formed by volcanic activity, resulting in fascinating rock and coral formations. During a walk, you'll see the area's abundant wildlife, including land iguanas, giant tortoises, and lava lizards. Birdlife includes finches, hawks, and mockingbirds. The moderate hike, a relatively long one at 9,843 feet (3,000 m), is followed by a refreshing swim or snorkeling in the bay.

Day 5: Visit Tagus Cove, Cruise to Isla Fernandina & Espinoza Point

Visit another highlight of Isabela's east coast this morning when you stop at Tagus Cove. Here, you'll stroll along the sea cliffs searching for penguins, flightless cormorants, and other aquatic birds. You can also hike to a viewpoint overlooking Darwin Lake, which has a saline content higher than the sea. During the hike, notice the graffiti on the surrounding cliffs and cove—it's been written over the centuries by pirates, whalers, and buccaneers.

Afterward, the ship will cross the Bolivar Channel that divides Isabela and Fernandina, the third-largest island in the Galápagos. You'll land at Espinoza Point and, after disembarking, hike past colonies of marine iguanas and sea lions on your way to a nesting site of flightless cormorants. This cormorant is one of the many animals that inspired Darwin's theory of evolution, as, over time, the environment forced its wings and feet to adapt more to water. This famous area also provides an excellent opportunity to see the noble Galápagos hawk.

Day 6: Cruise to Isla Santiago: Buccaneer Cove & Isla Rábida 

The journey continues as you cruise to Isla Santiago this morning, arriving at the dramatic coastal cliffs of Buccaneer Cove. This scenic inlet is home to many marine birds, sea lions, and intertidal organisms. You'll definitely want to snap photos of the seaside caves and otherworldly rock formations, like The Bishop and Elephant Rock. There's also the opportunity for snorkeling and a ride on a glass-bottom boat.

From here, head to a pristine sandy beach on the north end of Isla Santiago called Playa Espumilla. At either end of the beach, trails lead through some mangroves to a salty lagoon, where lucky visitors may get to see flamingoes, pintail ducks, stilts, or other wading birds. There's also good snorkeling and kayaking off the coast.

After lunch, sail to the remarkable Isla Rábida, famous for its cactus groves and scenic rock formations. Finches and other small land birds are commonly seen flitting around the cactuses alongside the trails. The hike starts along a red sand beach where brown pelicans nest in mangroves. Short trails lead from the beach to some lagoons where flamingoes are sometimes seen. After the hike, cool off with a swim or some snorkeling, and make sure to keep an eye out for colorful fish, marine iguanas, sea lions, and turtles.

Day 7: Visit Mosquera Islet, Disembark Cruise, Fly to Guayaquil

For your last morning in the Galápagos, you'll cruise to Mosquera, an islet located north of Baltra. Here, you'll embark on a short hike on a sandy, sparsely vegetated sandbar home to sea lions, lava gulls, shorebirds, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Lucky visitors might also see a yellow-crowned heron. The stop also includes a guided walk around the islet and time to snorkel offshore. Afterward, you'll say goodbye to the islands as you disembark and head to the airport in Baltra for your flight back to Guayaquil. Upon arrival, you'll return to Hotel del Parque.

Day 8: Transfer to Cuenca, City Tour

Your driver will pick you up early for the 3.5-hour drive inland from Guayaquil to Cuenca. Known as the "Athens of Ecuador" due to its well-preserved buildings, this city is a great place to stroll amid colonial history. Speaking of which, your accommodation is a part of this history.

ITZA is a 5-star boutique hotel in a creatively restored colonial building that mixes old-world charm and modern design. Each room features luxurious bedding with high-thread-count linens, elegant chandeliers, and mod-cons like flat-screen TVs and minibars. There's also a chic rooftop bar/restaurant where you can dine on traditional Ecuadorian cuisine amid views of historic church domes.

After checking into your hotel, meet a local guide to discover Cuenca on a private city tour. Walk along Cuenca's cobbled streets to landmarks like the 16th-century Iglesia El Sagrario, known as the "Old Cathedral." Another highlight is the 19th-century Catedral Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción, aka the "New Cathedral." While the old cathedral has been converted into a museum, the new one, with its famous blue and white domes, is still a working church.

Day 9: Fly to Quito, Art Museum Tour

Transfer to the airport in Cuenca this morning, where you'll board a one-hour flight north to Quito. Ecuador's dynamic capital is nestled high in the Andes Mountains and abounds with colonial history. In fact, it was one of the first major Spanish settlements when they arrived in the New World in the 16th century.

Upon arrival at the airport, your driver will pick you up for the ride to the city's western outskirts and Hacienda Rumiloma. Located on the slopes of Pichincha volcano and offering sweeping views of the Quito skyline, this mountain retreat combines rustic charm with luxury. Each of the hacienda's six suites is furnished with antiques and local crafts, some of which also feature fireplaces and private balconies. A popular restaurant on-site serves gourmet cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. Feel free to take your meal al fresco on the terrace, enjoying city views as you eat.

Day 10: Visit Mitad del Mundo & Agave Museum, Depart Quito

Despite this being your departure day, you've got a packed morning itinerary ahead of you. After breakfast, you'll meet a driver and transfer just north of Quito to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World), a park dominated by the 98-foot-tall (30 m) Monument to the Equator. It marks the precise location of the equator, the invisible line that divides the Earth's Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Straddling the yellow line here means you'll have one foot in each hemisphere.

The last stop of the trip is the Agave Museum to taste fine spirits Ecuador has created using a plant normally associated with Mexico. Afterward, you'll transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight home. Safe travels!

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